I recently picked up a 4" 624 S/N AHB17XX. I sent an email to S&W over a week ago to check the status of this gun on the recall and have not yet recieved a reply. Is this normal? When I checked my 6.5" that I bought a few years back, I recieved a reply within a few hours. Joyfully that one was shipped after the suspect guns were shipped.

Does anyone have a direct email for Kate Freddette? I prefer to do this by email and not the phone as I prefer to have something in writting.

__________________
Formerly know as Lucky Derby

Fredette, Kate
E-mail Address(es):
[email protected]

Kate answered my e-mails quickly.
Mine was on the list and needed some trigger work too. I sent it in over a month ago, still no word from S&W. This is really making me nervous, wondering if I'm going to get it back at all.

If I had to do it over, I would not have sent it in. I would have just had the trigger fixed by another gunsmith.

Then I could be posting in the '624 satisfaction' thread instead of this one.

I also bought a model 624 awhile back, and was concerned about the cylinder problem. My gun did not have a box, so I didn't know if it had the "Red Circle" when I bought it or not. I called S&W and gave the serial number over the phone, and within a few minutes, I was told my gun was shipped before the problem existed and was ok.

Try giving them a call.
augy

I thought that they also stamped the frame after they were inspected, if they were OK. Did you look under the grips?
EarlFH

I'd give em a call and try to check on the progress. Hopefully you'll find out that the hold up is related to the line your gun is waiting in for the trigger work. When I sent my 624 back to be checked (within the last year) it was returned to me within two weeks, but i didn't have any other work done to it. Point is, the recall check shouldn't take long.

If it's no good,(doesn't pass) you won't get it back. They have been out of spare cylinders for a long time. They will probably offer you another gun. They are still making the 44 specials, but with the locks, in blue or fake case colored.

EarlFH

Yeah, I'm calling Monday morning. The suspense is killing me.

I ordered a Ruger Bisley in .44 special just in case I don't get my 624 back. If they offer me something else, I'll probably choose a .22lr of one form or another. I wonder if they would let me pick a Walther?

I've heard that they have blued cylinders...

Maybe get one of those, have a 44Spl pinto.

Just sayin...

Mine just returned Tuesday, it was gone 12 days, including two weekends and a holiday. The repair statement just said it needed no repair. No mention of any marks to say it was marked as ok. The trigger work is what is probably taking longer. Hope you get it back soon.

__________________
Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

Thanks, glad you got yours back.

They didn't stamp the frames on the 624 recall like they did on the 686 recall. I wish they had. On the 624 recall they only stamped the boxes. Seems kind of short sighted IMHO.

__________________
Formerly know as Lucky Derby

Thank you

email sent

__________________
Formerly know as Lucky Derby

I called S&W this morning and they told me they mailed me an estimate for the repairs.
I guess the good news there is it must have passes the cylinder test, the bad news is I'm on the hook for the repairs.

Andy Taylor, I hope you don't mind that I hijacked your thread.
You might want to hold off on sending yours in until we can clear up whether it's a metallurgy issue or if it was that some were reamed to .44 magnum chambers.

It was a heat treat problem.

No problem Calliope. Keeps the thread active.

I still haven't heard back from Kate. I really don't want to risk loosing it, but I have heard that very few (like maybe one) have ever actually failed in recent years. I have to wonder if most of the guns that would fail were found pretty early on (when the distributors sent them back in '85) and the only reason we keep having this issue come up is because of a silly marking system (box only) and lack of records as to which guns they already checked. Seems like they should start a better marking system and/or record keeping now. It is better late than never.

__________________
Formerly know as Lucky Derby

Recieved a reply from Kate today. My 4" was shipped in April of '85, so it is included the recall. She will be sending me a shipping label.
I asked about just sending in the cylinder and also asked if I could supply a known good cylinder from my 6.5" if the one on my 4" is bad. I explained that if one of the guns has to be lost, I would prefer it be the 6.5" gun. I will update when I have a reply.

__________________
Formerly know as Lucky Derby

Her very short answer was "I would send the entire gun please"
So nothing said about whether I can supply the cylinder from my 6.5" or do a barrel swap if the cylinder is bad.

__________________
Formerly know as Lucky Derby

Shipping label recieved this morning.
Guess I am sending it in. Don't really want to, but I bought it to shoot, and don't want to risk the cylinder giving way.
Glad others seem to be getting their 624s back. That gives me hope.

__________________
Formerly know as Lucky Derby

After waiting another week for the estimate to arrive, I called this morning and talked to a more helpful person at S&W. I paid $140 by credit card over the phone to get things rolling again. He said it should be about three more weeks before I get my gun back, right about the time I'll be getting called back to work. (I've been laid off since mid May) Oh well, I'm going to head out to the range today, should be plenty warm, and shoot my new .44 special Bisley Blackhawk to stave off my .44 special jones.

Andy Taylor, good luck with yours, I'm sure it will take only a couple of weeks, and like you said, you don't want to be worrying about shooting full power loads.

Exactly what I was thinking when I decided to send mine back. If more of them were being kept by S&W I probably wouldn't have. But, as was said in an earlier post, only one or two seem to have ever failed. So I think the odds are in your favor. Keep us posted.

Shipped it out this morning. Then went and shot my 25-5s. I had to do something about the big bore jones too.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

__________________
Formerly know as Lucky Derby

Shipped my 6 1/2" 624 out this morning after receiving return authorization on my e-mail. Now to wait and hope they don't keep it. I also asked them to check it over and if it needed any thing to do the work and let me know. This is the third 624 I've had. Years ago I had one of each barrel length and foolishly let them go on a trade. Live and learn. I love the .44 caliber either Special or Magnum and have several of each now. Intend on keeping them for a long time.

FedEx tracking shows that it was delivered a little after 9 this morning. My fingers are crossed that all goes well and my baby comes home.

__________________
Formerly know as Lucky Derby

Hope it works out for you. I have a 624, no box, and this thread prompted me to send MS Fredette an e-mail. My revolver was shipped in April, 1985 and she said it would have to be sent in for inspection.
I really think I will just shoot moderate loads and hope for the best. It may have been checked, and if not, if only a few have failed it's probably OK.
I really don't want to risk losing the thing.

Nice surprise when I came home today, my 624 was waiting for me. On Monday they told me three more weeks, instead it was just four days. Of course they've had it since early June, but hey, it's back!

They repaired the lock work, the trigger is as good as my old model 10, that means perfect. No trace of motion before it breaks, 'glass rod' crisp, no more than three pounds I think. DA is as slick as can be. I see they put new side plate screws in it, maybe so they can tell if it gets opened up.

The paper work just said 'BR, recall' with the serial number. No stamp on frame.

I'm sure glad I got it back, I took my new Bisley Blackhawk .44 special to the gunsmith on Tuesday for a trigger job. Now I have something besides a Glock to shoot.

Maybe I'll shoot it in next week's IHMSA Field Pistol event.

Good luck to everyone else who sends 624s in, I'm sure they all will be returned soon.

Congrats Colliope. I'm glad it worked out and they did your trigger etc right.

__________________
Formerly know as Lucky Derby

Wayne I hope that works for you. I considered that, but I know myself. I would worry every time I pulled the trigger. I already have a 696 that I stick to moderate loads with. I don't need another .44 that can't be wrung out every now and again.

__________________
Formerly know as Lucky Derby

For those that had their guns checked, did they send an email letting you know the guns was on it's way, or did it just show up?

__________________
Formerly know as Lucky Derby

Mine just showed up, and sooner than I expected it to.

I have a 624 that falls within the recall an I have not sent it in. I was not going to but I have another smith that I was thinking about get work done to. Would s&w let you send two guns back to them and have them cover the shipping since the first gun would be part of the recall?
I have never sent anything back before.

It can't hurt to ask.

__________________
Formerly know as Lucky Derby

Shipped my 624 back to S&W on 7/27/2011 and go it back on 8/3/2011, no repairs needed, so it must have passed and it's good to go. Glad I got it checked for the recall. Now I can shoot it without worry and just enjoy it.

If you haven't resolved this yet, please give customer service a call at 1-800-331-0852 with your serial number. They can check to see if your serial number is subject to the recall. The e-mails can get pretty backed-up. The factory is closed right now, but you can still get through to customer service for a safety issue like this.

__________________
______________________________

I'm glad it worked for you. I shipped mine on the 25th, and haven't heard anything yet. Now I'm worried.

__________________
Formerly know as Lucky Derby

Rumor has it they are shut down for two weeks, but should be back to business as usual next week. They sent me a notice that they had mine about 10 or 14 days after I sent it in. The 2 week re-tooling period might slow yours down, but I'm sure it will come back to you.

Let's hope so. He shipped his two days after I shipped mine, and he already has his back.

__________________
Formerly know as Lucky Derby

Call Kate for free shipping of your 624 back to S&W. Shipping them both back together only makes sense to me if you are paying. Even if you have to pay for one Smith, I'd treat 'em like traveling execs ... separate flights in case the plane goes down. YMMV.

Still havn't heard anything back. I sent Kate an email yesterday. It does help that I got my .44 HE 2nd out of quarentine today.

__________________
Formerly know as Lucky Derby

Well after two ignored emails, I called. Was on hold for over 20 minutes. I was told that it should be ready the middle of next week, but was given no further info. I find it interesting that pdcampy had his back in a week, and mine is taking over a month.

__________________
Formerly know as Lucky Derby

I sent my question regarding a 624 cylinder to this email address. Got a reply within 2 days

[email protected]

__________________
Fe Feo Fuerte

I almost missed this thread. I sent my 624 in for inspection and it came back within 2 weeks as I recall. No communication from S&W, only a sheet of paper that indicated "no repairs needed". When I first made contact with S&W they said that they would send me a shipping label, then they recanted and said there was a problem with the serial number. So I called S&W to find out what was wrong and they indicated it was not under a lifetime warranty, since it was built in 1985, therefore I would have to pay shipping. Guess I didn't talk to the right person. Regardless, I am now a proud owner of a fine Model 624 that I'm not afraid to shoot. And it is awesome.

Just recieved an email from Kate. She appologized for the delay and said that my gun should ship out tomorrow or Friday. Apparently that means it passed inspection.

__________________
Formerly know as Lucky Derby

WOOHOO! My 624 is home! Recieved with the note: No repair necessary. Funny thing is today I also got a letter from S&W telling me that they recieved my gun and should have the work done in 2-3 weeks. Hopefully I can get some time to shoot it this week.

__________________
Formerly know as Lucky Derby

Hey, that's great news, glad to hear it.

Thanks Calliope.

__________________
Formerly know as Lucky Derby

Well, Wish me luck. Mine went out on FED ex yesterday. S&W was really helpful so far. Kate sent me a label for FED EX and I can't wait to get it back.

I hope it goes well for you.

__________________
Formerly know as Lucky Derby

It appears to my untrained eye that very few 624's are subject to the problems of the recall.

This is a good thing!

As far as I can figure, I would not have had the opportunity to purchase one if the specter of the recall hadn't made the previous owner uneasy.

I don't think I'm alone in this.

Congrats on the clean bill of health on your 624.

Thanks Snapping Twig.
The sad thing is S&W has made this worse for both themselves and us by:
1. not marking the guns
2. by not maintaining a list of which guns get checked
or
3. both

Judging by the small number that actually get kept, (I believe the number is 1, in recent years) I suspect that most of the problem guns were found in within the first year or so. We are just retesting those same guns over and over again. Even though S&W didn't do it in the beginning, don't you think it would be a good idea for them to start doing either 1, 2 or 3 at this point? Perhaps we could start maintaining a list of our own. Those of us who have guns that have been checked submit the serial numbers and someone here maintains a list with and notes. Such as;
S/N AHBXXXX shipped after the problem date.
S/N AHBXXXY Checked in 1987 OK per S&W.

Obviously not perfect, but at least we could limit some of the shipping and the stress this causes owners. It would also be honor system as there is no way to verify that an owner who submited their gun to the list was being truthful, although I see no reason that someone might lie about it.

__________________
Formerly know as Lucky Derby